Utah quarterback Travis Wilson says he's OK with not being a captain this year

I’m happy for them and have total faith in both Dres and Junior. I think they’re great leaders on this team and have been doing a great job this whole offseason. They’re doing everything they can for teammates and always being there for them.—Utes quarterback Travis Wilson

SALT LAKE CITY — It’s not often a 19-year-old sophomore gets named as a captain on a major college football team. It’s also not often that a player who is a captain one year isn’t named a captain the following year.

That’s the situation Utah quarterback Travis Wilson finds himself in after not being named one of the five captains for this year’s team after being one a year ago.

However, Wilson seems to be not the least bit concerned about it.

“Obviously it’s an honor being a captain on this team, but there’s other ways I can lead,’’ he said. “Being a quarterback I’m always going to have to be a leader of the offense, so I’m ready to take that role and keep on leading.’’

Also, Wilson is excited for seniors Dres Anderson and Junior Salt to be named as the offensive captains along with defensive captains Brian Blechen and Nate Orchard and special teams captain Andy Phillips.

“I’m happy for them and have total faith in both Dres and Junior,’’ Wilson said. “I think they’re great leaders on this team and have been doing a great job this whole offseason. They’re doing everything they can for teammates and always being there for them.’’

THOMPSON WILL PLAY: While Wilson will be the starter at quarterback, coach KyleWhittingham reaffirmed Monday that junior transfer KendalThompson will play this week against Idaho State, but gave no specifics.

“He’ll play,’’ he said of Thompson. “There’s no set rotation, no set timetable.’’

Whittingham said his team has the “right one, two and three” at quarterback right now with Wilson, Thompson and redshirt freshman BrandonCox.

LIFE IS NOT FAIR: Whittingham wasn’t even asked specifically about it in Monday’s press conference, but he gave a shout-out to junior quarterback AdamSchulz, who started the final three games last year and threw for 1,008 yards with six touchdown passes, but is now the fifth-string quarterback behind Wilson, Thompson, Cox and redshirt freshman ConnerManning.

“Adam Schulz is the guy who really didn’t get much of an opportunity this fall,’’ Whittingham said. “Adam had a great attitude throughout fall camp. Sometimes things aren’t fair. Adam didn’t get many reps at all in the fall camp. But in football you have to do what you think will give you the best chance to win. So if there’s somebody you can say didn’t really get a fair shake, it’s probably Adam Schulz.’’

CHANGES: The Utes made a couple of changes on the depth chart since last week. Sophomore DelshawnMcClellon is now the starting H-receiver ahead of TimPatrick, and UaeaMasina is listed as No. 1 at stud linebacker ahead of PitaTaumoepenu. WykieFreeman is listed with JustinThomas as the starting nickel back.

Also, Whittingham said running back BubbaPoole will be the first-team punt returner, but he expects JC transfer KaelinClay to also return some punts as well as kickoff returns.

UTENOTES: A row of bleachers has been added in the standing-room areas on the east, west and north sections of Rice-Eccles Stadium, bringing the official capacity to 45,807, up from 45,017. ... Whittingham said several true freshmen should see action this week, including receiver KenricYoung and defensive backs BoobieHobbs, MarcusWilliams and MonteSeabrook. ... Whittingham also said he wouldn’t decide which players would be redshirted until Week 4. ... Utah has a 6-0 all-time mark against Idaho State and has won the five games in Salt Lake by an average score of 48-6.